Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.

THE RETURN OF THE DEAD AND OTHER BALLADS

BY GEORGE BORROW

LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION 1913

THE RETURN OF THE DEAD

Swayne Dyring o'er to the island strayed; And were I only young again! He wedded there a lovely maid— To honied words we list so fain.

Together they lived seven years and more; And were I only young again! And seven fair babes to him she bore— To honied words we list so fain.

Then death arrived in luckless hour; And were I only young again! Then died the lovely lily flower— To honied words we list so fain.

The Swayne he has crossed the salt sea way, And were I only young again! And he has wedded another may— To honied words we list so fain.

And he that may to his home has brought; And were I only young again! But peevish was she, and with malice fraught— To honied words we list so fain.

And when she came to the castle gate, And were I only young again! The seven children beside it wait— To honied words we list so fain.

The children stood in sorrowful mood, And were I only young again! She spurned them away with her foot so rude— To honied words we list so fain.

Nor bread nor meat will she bestow; And were I only young again! Said "Hate ye shall have and the hunger throe"— To honied words we list so fain.

She took away the bolsters blue; And were I only young again! "Bare straw will serve for the like of you"— To honied words we list so fain.

Away she's ta'en the big wax light; And were I only young again! Said she "Ye shall lie in the murky night"— To honied words we list so fain.

The babies at night with hunger weep; And were I only young again! The woman heard that in the grave so deep— To honied words we list so fain.

To God's high throne such haste she made; And were I only young again! "O I must go to my babies' aid"— To honied words we list so fain.

She begged so loud, and she begged so long, And were I only young again! That at length consent from her God she wrung— To honied words we list so fain.

"But thou must return when the cock shall crow, And were I only young again! "No longer tarry must thou below"— To honied words we list so fain.

Then up she struck with her stark thigh bone, And were I only young again! And burst through wall and marble stone— To honied words we list so fain.

And when to the dwelling she drew nigh, And were I only young again! The hounds they yelled to the clouds so high— To honied words we list so fain.

And when to the castle gate she won, And were I only young again! Her eldest daughter stood there alone— To honied words we list so fain.

"Hail daughter mine, what dost thou here? And were I only young again! How fare thy brothers and sisters dear?"— To honied words we list so fain.

"O dame thou art no mother of mine, And were I only young again! For she was a lady fair and fine— To honied words we list so fain.

"A lady fine with cheeks so red, And were I only young again! But thou art pale as the sheeted dead"— To honied words we list so fain.

"O how should I be fine and sleek? And were I only young again! How else than pale should be my cheek?— To honied words we list so fain.

"And how should I be white and red? And were I only young again! Beneath the mould I've long been dead"— To honied words we list so fain.

And when she entered the high, high hall, And were I only young again! Drowned with tears stood the babies all— To honied words we list so fain.

The one she combed, the other she brushed, And were I only young again! The third she dandled, the fourth she hushed— To honied words we list so fain.

The fifth upon her breast she plac'd, And were I only young again! And allowed the babe of the breast to taste— To honied words we list so fain.

To her eldest daughter she turned her eye; And were I only young again! "Go call Swayne Dyring instantly"— To honied words we list so fain.

And when Swayne Dyring before her stood, And were I only young again! She spake to him thus in wrathful mood— To honied words we list so fain.

"I left behind both ale and bread; And were I only young again! My children with hunger are nearly dead— To honied words we list so fain.

"I left behind me bolsters blue; And were I only young again! Upon bare straw my babes I view— To honied words we list so fain.

"I left behind the big wax light; And were I only young again! My children lie in the murk at night— To honied words we list so fain.

"If again I'm forced to seek thee here, And were I only young again! Befall thee shall a fate so drear— To honied words we list so fain.

"But hark! the ruddy cock has crow'd, And were I only young again! The dead must return to their abode— To honied words we list so fain.

"I hear, I hear the black cock crow; And were I only young again! The gates of heaven are opening now— To honied words we list so fain.

The white cock claps his wings so wide, And were I only young again! No longer here I dare to bide"— To honied words we list so fain.

Each time the dogs began to yell, And were I only young again! They gave the children bread and ale— To honied words we list so fain.

As soon as they heard of the hounds the cry, And were I only young again! They feared the ghost was drawing nigh— To honied words we list so fain.

Whene'er the dogs were heard to rave, And were I only young again! They feared the woman had left her grave— To honied words we list so fain.

THE TRANSFORMED DAMSEL

I take my axe upon my back, To fell the tree I mean; Then came the man the wood who owned, And thrust his heft between.

"If thou hew down my father's grove, And me this damage do, If I but see thee fell the tree Thou dearly that shalt rue."